Biography of Christopher Columbus for Children: Famous Explorers for Kids - FreeSchool
Learn About Christopher Columbus
Early Life and Background
- Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy, as the son of a weaver. He began sailing as a young teen and traveled to various locations including Greece, England, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, West Africa, and Spain.
- In 1476, Columbus was shipwrecked off the coast of Portugal. After swimming to shore, he settled in Lisbon where he got married and had his first son, Diego.
The Quest for Exploration
- Columbus became fascinated with the idea of sailing west from Europe to reach Asia due to the lucrative trade of spices and silk. He believed that a direct route could lead to wealth.
- Contrary to popular belief at the time, most people understood that the world was round; however, nautical experts doubted Columbus's estimates regarding the distance to Asia.
Challenges in Securing Funding
- Columbus faced rejection when seeking funding for his expedition from Portugal, Genoa, and Venice. Eventually, he approached King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain in 1486 but was initially turned down due to their ongoing war.
- After six years of persistence following the end of the war in 1492, Columbus secured funding for his voyage. He set sail on August 3 with three ships: Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria.
Discoveries Made During Voyages
- On October 12th (two months later), Columbus reached what is now known as the Bahamas and mistakenly believed he had arrived in Asia. He named this island San Salvador.
- Although gold was scarce on San Salvador, Columbus returned to Spain with native people and exotic items like pineapples and tobacco as proof of riches across the ocean.
Subsequent Expeditions and Their Outcomes
- Following his initial success in spreading word about new lands back in Europe, Columbus led a larger second expedition with 17 ships but found that his original settlement had been destroyed by native peoples.
- His third voyage took him to Venezuela; however conditions worsened at settlements leading to his arrest in 1500 due to settlers blaming him for their hardships.
Final Years